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NBS TECHNICAL NOTE
850
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
The National Bureau of Standards1 was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901.
The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology
and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts
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THE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION PROGRAMS promotes optimum dissemination and
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1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg. Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address
Washington, D.C. 20234.
3 Part of the Center for Radiation Research.
3 Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302.
4 Part of the Center for Building Technology.
Gasoline and Gasoline Container Fire Incidents
L '-
"£. C C\\ C^ \ C<\> Hv$> "^
:C>o.^°
Elaine A. Tyrrell
Programmatic Center for Fire Research
Institute for Applied Technology
National Bureau of Standards
Washington, D.C. 20234
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I
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Frederick 3. Dent, Secretary
\^ CNATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Richard W. Roberts, Director
Issued January 1975
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 74-600163
National Bureau of Standards Technical Note 850
Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 850, 34 pages (Jan. 1975)
CODEN: NBTNAE
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1975
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402
(Order by SD Catalog No. 03.46:850).
Price 85 cents
CONTENTS
page
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE 2
3. FINDINGS 4
3.1. Age and Sex of Persons Involved 4
3.2. Gasoline Incidents 9
3.2.1. Ignition-Causing Activities For
Gasoline Incidents 9
3.2.2. Major Ignition-Causing Activities
For Gasoline Incidents 11
3.2.3. Ignition Sources For Gasoline
Incidents 12
3.2.4. Major Ignition Sources For Gasoline
Incidents 14
3.3. Gasoline Container-Related Incidents .... 15
3.3.1. Container Description For Gasoline
Container-Related Incidents 15
3.3.2. Ignition-Causing Activities For
Gasoline Container-Related Incidents 17
3.3.3. Ignition Sources For Gasoline
Container-Related Incidents 20
3.4. Gasoline Can Incidents 21
4. CONCLUSIONS 23
5. RECOMMENDATIONS 24
APPENDIX A. THE FLAMMABLE FABRICS ACCIDENT CASE AND
TESTING SYSTEM (FFACTS) 2 6
APPENDIX B. SYSTEM DEVISED FOR OBTAINING ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION FROM FFACTS CONCERNING GASOLINE AND
GASOLINE CONTAINER- RELATED INCIDENTS 27
ill
GASOLINE AND GASOLINE CONTAINER FIRE INCIDENTS
Elaine A. Tyrrell
Gasoline was involved in 72 percent of the 645
volatile flammable liquids fire incidents found in
the NBS Flammable Fabrics Accident Case and Testing
System as of December 1973. These gasoline incidents,
particularly those that were container-related,
were studied in detail. Male victims out-numbered
females approximately 5 to 1. Both males and
females, ages 6-20, were injured more frequently
than would have been expected if the incidents for
each sex had been distributed uniformly over all
age groups. Starting or tending an open fire
caused ignitions most frequently and involved
primarily males ages 13-45. Children were injured
most from knocking over or dropping a container of
gasoline close to an ignition source and playing
with gasoline and an ignition source. Matches
were the most frequent ignition source. Containers
ranged from large gasoline cans to kitchen measuring
cups, although gasoline cans were reported most
often. The youngest children were involved most
with some of the largest containers. The remaining
victims were involved primarily with smaller, more
easily managed containers. There was no indication
that the gasoline containers, by themselves, contri-
buted substantially to these incidents. The
problem was one of human error - misuse or abuse
of the gasoline, the container, or both.
Key words: Accidents; FFACTS; gasoline; gasoline
containers; gasoline incidents; gasoline-related
fires; ignition-causing activities; ignition sources;
volatile flammable liquids; volatile flammable liquids
incidents.
1. INTRODUCTION
Among some of the current problems associated with gasoline
shortages and accompanying price increases are the tendencies
of consumers to hoard gasoline. An increasing number of acci-
dents associated with the storage and usage of this fuel are
being reported via the news media.
Last year, an estimated 24,600 people1 sought hospital
emergency room attention for injuries sustained from flammable
liquids. Approximately 60 percent of these injuries were
attributable to gasoline.
The Flammable Fabrics Accident Case and Testing System
(FFACTS)2 at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) was searched
for fire incidents involving gasoline with the knowledge that
data collected for this system is flammable fabrics oriented
and, therefore, any information pertaining to the causal
effects of flammable liquids or flammable liquid containers may
be biased. In a FFACTS data base of 3,043 cases as of December
1973, 668 victims were involved in 645 separate incidents3
in which intermediary materials'1 in the form of volatile flam-
mable liquids were present in the ignition sequence. Gasoline
represented 72 percent of these flammable liquids.
Because gasoline represents a high proportion of the
flammable liquids cases in FFACTS and because of an increasing
concern for how this short-supply fuel is being used and stored
by the consumer, an in-depth investigation was made of the gaso-
line incidents. Special emphasis was given to those gasoline
incidents that were container-related, that is, incidents in
which the containers were causally involved in the ignition
sequence. The objective of this investigation was to determine
if any patterns or trends exist which may aid in the reduction
or elimination of some of these accidents.
2. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE
In table 1, a breakdown of the volatile flammable liquids
is shown for the 645 incidents. Of the 462 gasoline incidents,
10 incidents were described as involving white (unleaded)
gasoline. In these 10 incidents, it was noted that the flammable
liquid involved was a product packaged, labeled, and sold
specifically for use as a fuel for camping equipment. These
incidents were excluded from the study. The remaining 452
gasoline incident case histories were collected and studied in
detail.
^his is an estimated number of injuries for calendar year 1973
based on flammable liquid accident reports from the 119 hospi-
tals participating in the National Electronic Injury Surveil-
lance System (NEISS) .
2See Appendix A for a description of the FFACTS data base.
3An incident is defined as a single ignition from a single heat
source which may involve one or more fabric items and/or persons
^An intermediary material is a non-fabric item which is ignited
by the ignition source and in turn ignites fabric items thereby
forming a link in the causality chain.
Table 1. Volatile Flammable
Liquids Incidents in FFACTS
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Number of
Percent of
Flammable Liquid
Incidents
Incidents
Gasoline
462
72
Lighter Fluid
36
6
Alcohol
27
4
Paint Thinner
23
4
Solvents
13
2
Adhesives
13
2
Kerosene
11
2
Flammable Liquids (Unspecified)
11
2
Oils
8
Fuel
8
Turpentine
5
Charcoal/Starter Fluid
5
Cleaning Fluid
5
Paint
5
Mix of Chemicals
4
6
Acetone
2
Shellac
2
Hair Spray
2
Window De-icer
1
Antifreeze
1
Fabric Softener
1
Total
645
100
From a review of these case histories it was noted that
they often contained specific information regarding the container
itself and the victim's activity with respect to the container
prior to the ignition, as well as information about the container
during the ignition sequence. None of this information can be
retrieved from the computerized data file. It was observed that
patterns involving the above cited parameters appeared repeatedly
in these incidents which suggested that categorization of con-
tainer types and container-related activities leading up to the
ignition might be possible.
A system1 was devised for obtaining this information from
the 452 gasoline-related incidents. The following sections of
'See Appendix B for a description of this system.
this report describe the findings of this system as well as the
involvement' of the primary victim1 for each of these incidents.
FINDINGS
3.1. Age and Sex of Persons Involved
The age and sex distribut
volved in the FFACTS 452 gasol
2. A subset of these data was
gasoline container-related inc
incidents (cans designed speci
were determined. These groups
also. For purposes of analysi
divided into six age groups wh
of behavior patterns. The age
toddlers, ages 0-5; children,
young adults, ages 21-45; adul
age 66 and over.
ion of the primary victims in-
ine incidents are shown in table
obtained which represents the
idents, from which gasoline can
fically for containing gasoline)
of data are shown in table 2
s, the victim population was
ich roughly represent six types
groups represent infants and
ages 6-12; youth, ages 13-20;
ts, ages 46-65; and the elderly,
Table 2. Age and Sex Distribution of
Persons Involved in Gasoline, Gasoline
Container-Related, and Gasoline Can Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Gasoline
Container-
•Related
Gasoline Can
Age Group
Incidents
Incidents
Incidents
M F Total
M F
Total
M F Total
0-5
22 12 34
21 11
32
6 2 8
6-12
90 18 108
66 16
82
8 4 12
13-20
100 12 112
57 7
64
9 1 10
21-45
102 13 115
52 9
61
8 0 8
46-65
55 11 66
21 6
27
3 0 3
66+
12 3 15
6 0
6
0 0 0
Total Known
381 69 450
223 49
272
34 7 41
Unknown
2 - 2
1
1
- - -
Total
383 69 452
224 49
273
34 7 41
^he primary victim is defined as the person who was most in-
volved in the causality chain with the most important role
being that of sustaining an injury. If there were no injuries
reported, then the primary victim became the person who ini-
tiated the fire or was in some way directly involved.
As can be seen from these data, males outnumbered females
approximately 5 to 1 in all three groups of incidents. In
addition, the age distributions are roughly similar for all
three groups of incidents. For a more realistic discussion of
these data, the gasoline incidents were separated by sex and
the total number cf victims for each sex was redistributed over
the six age groups1 in proportion to their representation in
the U.S. population. These data are shown in table 3. The
resulting distributions indicate the number of victims which
might be expected for each age group if these gasoline incidents
had been distributed uniformly over all age groups.
Table 3. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in
Gasoline Incidents vs. Age Distributions For the U.S. Population
(FFACTS, December 1973)
a.
Males
Expected Number of
Age Group
Number
of
Percent of U.S.
Victims Based on
Victims
Populationa
Population Percentage
0-5
22
11
42
6-12
90
15
57
13-20
100
16
61
21-45
102
31
118
46-65
55
19
72
66+
12
8
31
Total
381
100
381
b. Females
Expected Number of
Age Group
Number
of
Percent of U.S.
Victims Based on
Victims
Population3
Population Percentage
0-5
12
10
7
6-12
18
13
9
13-20
12
15
10
21-45
13
31
21
46-65
11
20
14
66+
3
11
8
Total
69
100
69
aFigures are based on 1970 U.S. Bureau of the Census statistics
■^he two male victims of unknown age were excluded from table 3,
5
A visual representation of these data is given in figure 1
and figure 2. In figure 1, the histograms represent the number
of victims reported for the gasoline incidents found in FFACTS .
The number of victims which might be expected for each age group
(if the incidents were distributed uniformly over the age groups
in proportion to their representation in the U.S. population)
are superimposed over the histograms. In figure 2, the histo-
grams represent the number of victims reported for all three
types of gasoline-related incidents in FFACTS.
For the gasoline incidents, males in the 6-12 and 13-20
age groups were injured far more frequently than would have
been expected for their age groups if the incidents were dis-
tributed randomly over the male population. Being of an age
for "experimentation," males in the 6-12 age group were found
to be injured most frequently from playing with gasoline and
an ignition source. Having gained in sophistication, males in
the 13-20 age group were injured most frequently from starting
or tending open fires (type 1 and type 2)* - activities which
might still be considered as play activities in some instances
even though they may have been assigned chores.
Although males in the 21-45 age group were represented
more often than all other age groups in the FFACTS data, this
age group also represents the largest portion of the male popu-
lation among the six age groups used throughout this paper.
Hence, males in this age group were injured about as frequently
as would have been expected if the 381 gasoline incidents
involving males were distributed uniformly across the male
population. These victims were involved primarily with starting
or tending open fires type 1 and priming carburetors.
In all three groups of incidents - gasoline, container-
related, and gasoline can incidents - males between the ages of
6 and 65 were injured most often with a marked decline in
injuries for the very young and the elderly. This roughly
follows the developmental patterns one might expect for the
previously defined six age groups.
Females represented only 18 percent of the victims in the
FFACTS gasoline incidents, but their distribution in the three
groups of incidents is similar to that for the males. Females
in the 0-5, 6-12, and 13-20 age groups were injured most fre-
quently in proportion to their respective representation in the
female population. Possible explanations for the small fre-
quency of female involvement in gasoline incidents will be dis-
cussed in later sections.
*Type 1 fire refers to any open fire which is contained in a
receptacle designed for a fire (i.e., charcoal grill, camp fire,
fireplace, incinerator, etc.). Type 2 fire refers to any open
fire which has been started on the ground in an open area
(i.e., bonfire, fire to clear trash, leaves, or other debris,
etc.) .
6
FIGURE I. MALE AND FEMALE AGE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR GASOLINE
INCIDENTS AND FOR THE U.S. POPULATION
(Expected Number of Victims Supeimposed)
(FFACTS, December 1973)
120-
vr
rAU
b, i
110-
" A
102
"SQirni MALES
100-
90-
90
i
co
\
2 80-
-
/
\
1-
/
\
^ 70-
_
/
\
>
/
\
fe 60-
-
•^
J
55\
<z
/
— 1
uj 50-
—
r
\
m
| 40-
V
\
z
\
30-
22
»
20-
12
10-
0
* xV *' ><b' *
AG
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FEMALES
° *' vV nX' Jb' fo
V V *"■
AGE GROUP
FIGURE 2. MALE AND FEMALE INVOLVEMENT IN GASOLINE INCIDENTS,
CONTAINER-RELATED INCIDENTS, AND GASOLINE CAN
INCIDENTS BY AGE GROUPS
(FFACTS, December 1973)
MALES
□
GASOLINE INCIDENTS
(NON-CONTAINER)
GASOLINE CONTAINER-
RELATED INCIDENTS
3 GASOLINE CAN (A SUBSET OF
INCIDENTS GASOLINE
CONTAINER-
RELATED
INCIDENTS)
FEMALES
*> & ,_*
<° <b o> *°
AGE GROUP
AGE GROUP
3.2. Gasoline Incidents
3.2.1. Ignition-Causing Activities For Gasoline Incidents
In classifying the gasoline incidents by the activity
which led to the accident, it was observed that several of the
activity classifications previously determined might apply to
any one given incident. Therefore, the activity that most
closely identified with the ignition sequence was selected for
these incidents. The activity thus coded may not necessarily
indicate the activity of the primary victim representing the
incident. These ignition-causing activities are shown in
table 4.
Starting or tending an open fire type 1 represented 68 (15
percent) of the gasoline incidents. In comparison, 54 (12
percent) of the incidents were the result of playing with
gasoline and an ignition source; 40 (9 percent) of the incidents
were the result of knocking over or dropping a container of
gasoline in the presence of an ignition source; 39 (9 percent)
of the incidents were the result of starting or tending an open
fire type 2; and 37 (8 percent) were the result of cleaning or
repairing machinery or equipment.
Using gasoline as a cleaning agent meant the removal of
tar, paint, etc. from floors, counter tops, paint brushes,
etc.; driving or riding in a vehicle generally involved a
collision; using work tools referred to those tools which gen-
erate heat or sparks such as soldering irons and drills; and
using gasoline as an exterminating agent meant using this
volatile liquid to drown or burn out insects or their nests.
Males and females in the 0-5 age group were frequently
involved in incidents caused by knocking over or dropping a
container of gasoline in the presence of an ignition source
with 4 incidents being reported for the males and 6 incidents
being reported for the females which represent half of the
female injuries for this age group. Males in this age group
were involved equally as often in incidents caused by spilling
or splashing gasoline on themselves prior to the ignition and
playing with gasoline in the presence of an ignition source.
The ignition source for these activities were generally hot
water heaters or matches. Males and females in the 6-12 age
group were the chief victims of incidents caused by playing
with both gasoline and an ignition source which often involved
open fires, incinerators, camp fires, etc. Thirty-three of the
90 males and 8 of the 18 females were injured as a result of
this activity, which represents 77 percent of the injuries for
the age group.
Table 4. Ignition-Causing
Activities For Gasoline Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Activity
Number of
Incidents
Percent of
Total
Incidents
Starting or tending an open fire
type la
Playing with gasoline and ignition
source
Knocking over or dropping container of
gasoline
Starting or tending an open fire
type 2a
Cleaning or repairing machinery
Priming carburetor
Spilling or splashing gasoline
Using gasoline as cleaning agent ....
Driving or riding in vehicle
Using work tools
Refueling power machinery and vehicles .
Playing with gasoline
Using gasoline as exterminating agent. .
Using matches or lighter
Transferring gasoline
Unknown
Standing near gasoline
Stirring, stomping or disturbing an open
fire
Carrying or transporting gasoline. . . .
Using machinery or equipment
Playing with matches or lighter
Smoking
Using gasoline to ignite a heating source
Standing by an open fire
Assault/suicide
Helping another person involved in
incident
Suspected arson
Standing near ignition source
Warming self
Total
68
54
40
39
37
33
32
27
15
14
12
9
6
6
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
452
15
12
12
100
Starting or tending an open fire type 1 refers to any open
fire which is contained in a receptable designed for a fire.
Starting or tending an open fire type 2 refers to any open
fire which has been started on the ground in an open area.
10
Males in the 13-20 and 21-45 age groups were involved
most frequently in starting or tending fires. For males in the
13-20 age group, this frequently meant open fires followed by
incinerator fires. Males in the 21-45 age group, however, were
heavily involved in charcoal grill fires. Priming carburetors
was the second most frequently reported activity for males in
the 21-45 age group.
Males in the 46-65 age group were injured most frequently
while involved in machinery and equipment-related activities.
Ten incidents were reported where cleaning or repairing machi-
nery was involved and 7 incidents were reported where priming
carburetors was the activity which led to an ignition.
Starting or tending an open fire type 1 was the activity
reported as causing the most injuries to females ages 13-65
with charcoal grills being reported most frequently. For
females in the 13-20 and 21-45 age groups, this activity was
followed in frequency of occurrence by that of using gasoline
as a cleaning agent.
The elderly, both male and female, were involved in acci-
dents most frequently while burning trash, leaves, or other
debris in an open area. The males were involved equally as
often in incidents caused by cleaning or repairing machinery.
3.2.2. Major Ignition-Causing
Activities For Gasoline Incidents
Many of the activities discussed above can be regrouped
roughly into four major activities as seen in table 5. Being
involved with an open fire, which includes starting or tending
an open fire types 1 and 2, stirring, stomping or disturbing an
open fire, and standing by an open fire, represents 115 (25
percent) of the incidents. Being involved with machinery,
equipment, or tools, which includes cleaning or repairing
machinery, priming a carburetor, using work tools, refueling
equipment, and using machinery or equipment, represents 100 (22
percent) of the incidents. A physical action involving gasoline,
which includes knocking over or dropping a container of gasoline,
spilling or splashing gasoline, transferring gasoline, and
carrying or transporting gasoline, represents 83 (18 percent)
of the incidents. Playing with gasoline, an ignition source,
or both, represents 67 (15 percent) of the incidents.
Many of the injuries sustained as a result of these acti-
vities probably could have been alleviated if a more appropri-
ate product had been used instead of gasoline. Many less
volatile products are sold expressly as fire-starting fuels,
solvents, etc. Storage of these less volatile products possibly
could have lessened the number and extent of injuries sustained
11
Table 5. Major Ignition-Causing
Activities For Gasoline Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Activity
Number of
Incidents
Percent of
Total
Incidents
Being involved with an open fire
115
25
Being involved with machinery,
equipment, or tools
100
22
A physical action involving gasoline
83
18
Playing with gasoline, an ignition
source , or both
67
15
All others
87
20
Total
452
100
by children who played with the highly volatile gasoline they
found stored for some of these activities.
3.2.3. Ignition Sources For Gasoline Incidents
The ignition sources for the gasoline incidents are tabu-
lated in table 6. Matches were involved most frequently, being
represented in 87 (19 percent) of the 452 gasoline incidents.
Combustion engines were the second most frequently reported
ignition source, being reported in 65 (14 percent) of the in-
cidents, followed by hot water heaters, representing 48 (11
percent) of the incidents; open fires, representing 44 (10
percent) of the incidents; charcoal grills, representing 33 (7
percent) of the incidents; and incinerators, representing 32
(7 percent) of the incidents.
Hot water heaters and matches were the most frequent
ignition sources for both sexes in the 0-5 age group with 8
and 6 incidents, respectively, being reported for the males
and 3 and 2 incidents, respectively, being reported for the
females. This represents 64 percent of the males and 42 percent
of the females in the age group. The water heater incidents
generally involved knocking over a gasoline container near the
ignition source while the match incidents were primarily
"playing with matches" incidents. Males in the 6-12 age group
were involved most frequently in accidents where matches were
the ignition source. Matches represented 38 percent of the
ignitions involving these males. The second most frequent
12
ignition source for males in this age group was open fires.
Matches and open fires were also the most frequent ignition
sources for females in the 6-12 age group.
Table 6. Ignition Sources For Gasoline Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Ignition Source
Number of
Percent of
Incidents
Total
Incidents
87
19
65
14
48
11
44
10
33
7
32
7
23
5
15
3
12
3
11
2
10
2
9
2
9
2
7
2
7
2
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
9
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
Matches
Combustion Engine
Hot Water Heater
Open Fire
Charcoal Grill
Incinerator
Unknown
Camp fire
Cutting/Welding Torch & Other Ignition
Source Equipment
Space Heater
Hot Coals or Smoldering Sticks . .
Furnace . .
Gas Range or Oven
Miscellaneous
Cigarettes
Other Work Tools
Electrical Wiring
Sparks and Shorts
Light Bulbs
Fireplace
Other Appliances
Lantern/Candle
Lighter
Matches or Lighter
Other Heaters
Clothes Dryer
Camp Stove
Extension Cord
Fireworks
TOTAL
452
100
13
Matches and open fires were the most frequent ignition
sources reported for males in the 13-20 age group representing
20 and 12, respectively, of the incidents. Combustion engines
were reported most frequently as the ignition source for males
in the 21-45 and 46-65 age groups. For males ages 21-45 this
meant primarily priming carburetors. For males ages 46-65 this
involved cleaning or repairing machinery most frequently. For
the males in the 21-45 age group, carburetor-priming was followed
by charcoal grills.
Females in the 13-20 age group were involved with hot water
heaters most frequently. Females ages 21-65 were involved with
charcoal grills most frequently. In addition, females in the
21-4 5 age group were often involved with space heaters and
females in the 46-65 age group were often involved with hot
water heaters, cigarettes, and matches.
3.2.4. Major Ignition Sources For Gasoline Incidents
Although some 2 7 different ignition sources have been
identified, 81 percent of the 452 gasoline incidents occurred
as the result of 4 major types of ignition sources which appear
in table 7. Open fires, which include charcoal grills, inci-
nerators, camp fires, furnaces and fireplaces, represent 30
percent of the ignitions; matches and lighters represent 20
percent; hot water heaters and other appliances, which include
space heaters, gas ranges or ovens, light bulbs, a clothes
dryer, and a camp stove, represent 17 percent, and combustion
engines represent 14 percent.
Table 7. Major Ignition Sources For Gasoline Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Percent of
Ignition Source Number
of
Total
Incidents
Incidents
Open Fires 137
30
Matches and Lighters 92
20
Hot Water Heaters and Other Appliances 78
17
Combustion Engines 65
14
All Others 80
19
Total 452
100
14
Open fires and matches and lighters, which were the most
frequent ignition sources, were generally found to entail a
similar sequence of events. Gasoline either was poured onto
the material to be ignited or was used to rekindle an existing
fire. Under the first set of circumstances, a match or lighter
was ignited which instantaneously ignited the highly volatile
gasoline fumes. An explosion generally ensued. Under the
second set of circumstances, hot coals or embers generally
ignited the gasoline as it was being poured from the container,
and the flames flashed back along the vapor stream to the con-
tainer. In both sets of circumstances, the victims were
reported to be engulfed in flames as the gasoline vapors had
already surrounded and permeated their clothing.
Accidents caused by pilot lights from gas appliances and
sparks from combustion engines igniting the gasoline with which
the victims were involved, have similar ignition sequences.
Although many of these ignition sources were being misused or
abused at the time of the ignition, they could not have been
changed or redesigned to make conditions safer for the victims
of these incidents who were carelessly and often improperly
using the highly volatile flammabile liquid - gasoline.
3.3. Gasoline Container-Related Incidents
The trends described for the gasoline incidents were present
generally in the 273 gasoline container-related incidents where
a container description was also given.
3.3.1. Container Description For
Gasoline Container-Related Incidents
Of the 452 incidents involving gasoline, 273 were found
where a container type was reported to have been involved in
the ignition sequence. Although more than one container type
may have been mentioned in the case history report, only the
container that was in use at the time of or otherwise involved
in the ignition sequence was coded. In table 8, the distri-
bution of container types that were found in the gasoline in-
cidents is given.
Gasoline cans, which included one-, two- and five-gallon
gasoline cans, were involved in 41 (15 percent) of the 273
container-related incidents. This means that in 41 of the
incidents, the container involved was actually referred to as a
"gasoline can" or a can specifically designed for holding
gasoline. If the case history referred to the container as a
"can of gas," one-, two- or five-gallon can of gasoline, etc.,
it was considered inappropriate to presume that the container
had been designed specifically for gasoline. These containers
15
Table 8. Distribution of Container Types
in Gasoline Container-Related Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Number of
Percent of
Container Type
Incidents
Total Incidents
Gasoline Can
41
15
Glass Container
37
14
Can (Unspecified)
35
13
Open Can
29
11
Coffee Can
26
10
Plastic Container (Unspecified)
23
8
Open, Shallow Pan
15
6
Cup
11
4
One-Gallon Can
9
3
Five-Gallon Can
8
3
Pail or Bucket
7
3
Oil Can
6
2
"Non-approved" Metal Can
4
2
Two-Gallon Can
3
Paint Can
2
Bowl
2
Paint-roller Tray
2
Three-Gallon Can
2
Can with Spout
2
Charcoal Lighter Fluid Spray Can
1
Insecticide Spray Can
1
6
Tea Kettle
1
Water Can
1
Milk Can
1
Thirty-Gallon Can
1
Milk Can Lid
1
"Rusty" Can
1
Antifreeze Can
1
Total
273
100
were coded under other classification listings. Therefore,
the percentage of gasoline cans which were actually involved
in an ignition sequence may be somewhat higher if it were known
what percent of the containers classified under unspecified
containers and various other classifications were gasoline cans.
Glass containers, which include pop and beer bottles, baby
food jars, peanut butter jars, and Mason jars, were involved
in 37 (14 percent) of the incidents. Open cans, which include
tin cans, as well as cans designed specifically for food, juice,
ham, lard, oysters and soda pop, were reported in 29 (11 per-
cent) of the incidents. Coffee cans, primarily of the one-
16
or two-pound variety, were reported in 2 3 (8 percent) of the
incidents .
Cups were generally paper or plastic, but occasionally a
kitchen measuring cup was reported. Pails and buckets were
made of a variety of materials including plastic.
Without exception, all of these containers were open at
the time of the ignition, which, in fact, helped bring about
the ignition in some instances. In most of the gasoline can
incidents, the container was described as being primarily a
storage receptacle. The rest of the containers, however, were
viewed by the victims generally as being temporary receptacles
chosen for easy maneuverability while using gasoline.
The youngest age group was involved most frequently with
some of the largest containers. Of all the age groups, the
0-5 age group was involved most frequently with gasoline cans,
which, for this age group, were designated generally as being
one gallon in size. These small toddlers were also involved
frequently with one- and two-pound coffee cans. This fact can
best be understood when coupled with the most frequently
reported activity for this age group which was knocking over
or dropping containers of gasoline.
In contrast, the rest of the age groups were involved most
frequently with smaller, more easily managed containers. For
the 6-12 and 13-20 age groups this meant primarily glass con-
tainers which generally are readily found in the storage area
of most homes. The remaining three age groups, which represent
adults, were involved most frequently with open cans (i.e.,
food and juice cans) and coffee cans which probably were saved
for a specific purpose by these victims as soon as the original
contents had been emptied.
There was no indication in the FFACTS data that one type
of container was more hazardous than another either by size,
shape, material, or construction. All of the containers in
these incidents had their inherent strengths and weaknesses
based on these four components. The one feature common to all
of these containers was that they were open at the time of the
accident.
3.3.2. Ignition-Causing Activities For
Gasoline Container-Related Incidents
As was observed for the gasoline incidents in general,
several of the activity classifications could apply to any
given incident in the 273 gasoline container-related incidents.
Again, the activity that most closely identified with the
gasoline container and the ignition sequence was chosen for
17
the incident in question which meant the activity selected
may not indicate the activity of the primary victim of the
incident. The ignition-causing activities for these gasoline
container-related incidents are given in table 9.
Table 9. Ignition-Causing Activities
in Gasoline Container-Related Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Activity
Number of
Incidents
Percent of
Total Incidents
Starting or tending an open fire
type 1 57
Playing with gasoline and
ignition source 44
Knocking over/dropping container
of gasoline 40
Starting or tending an open fire
type 2 22
Priming carburetor 18
Spilling or splashing gasoline. . 14
Using gasoline as cleaning agent 12
Using gasoline as exterminating
agent 8
Playing with gasoline 7
Refueling power machinery .... 7
Cleaning or repairing machinery 6
Transferring gasoline 6
Carrying or transporting gasoline 5
Using matches or lighter 5
Standing near gasoline 5
Playing with matches or lighter . 3
Stirring, stomping, or disturbing
open fire 3
Smoking 3
Using gasoline to ignite heating
source 1
Standing by open fire 1
Using work tools 1
Driving or riding in vehicle . . 1
Helping other person involved in
incident 1
Suspected arson 1
Assault/suicide 1
Unknown 1
Total 273
21
16
15
8
7
5
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
100
18
Starting or tending an open fire type 1 represented 57 (21
percent) of the incidents that were gasoline container-related.
In comparison, 44 (16 percent) of the incidents involved playing
with gasoline and an ignition source; 4 0 (15 percent) of the
incidents involved knocking over or dropping a container of
gasoline; 22 (8 percent) involved starting or tending an open
fire type 2; 18 (7 percent) of the incidents involved priming
carburetors; and 14 (5 percent) of the incidents represented
the victim or someone else spilling or splashing gasoline onto
the victim prior to the ignition.
Gasoline used as an exterminating agent included gasoline
soaked rags, jars containing small amounts of gasoline, etc.,
to destroy bugs and insects. The only activity involving the
use of machinery or equipment, for these container-related
incidents, was lighting a lantern. Driving or riding in vehi-
cles included the involvement of vehicles in collisions.
Youth ages 13-20 and adults between the ages of 21-65 were
injured most frequently while involved in starting or adding
gasoline to an existing open fire type 1. The elderly were
injured most while involved with an open fire type 2. These
activities correlate with the small container types most fre-
quently used by these victims which were primarily food, juice,
and coffee cans.
Young children in the 0-5 age group were injured most
frequently from knocking over or dropping a container of gaso-
line in the presence of an ignition source. Males in this age
group were also injured about as frequently from spilling or
splashing gasoline on themselves prior to an ignition and
playing with gasoline in the presence of an ignition source.
These activities do not require a great deal of manual dexterity
on the part of the victim which is demonstrated by the fact
that most of these victims were involved with container types
too large or heavy for them to lift or carry with ease.
Children in the 6-12 age group were injured most frequently
while playing with gasoline and an ignition source. Children
this age are generally more concerned about concealing play
activities that may have been designated dangerous or harmful
than toddlers who have not yet developed reasoning abilities.
These older children, who also have better developed motor
skills, often transferred gasoline to smaller, more manageable
containers and experimented with it in the presence of ignition
sources - generally matches and open fires.
19
3.3.3. Ignition Sources For Gasoline
Container-Related Incidents
A distribution of the ignition sources found for the gaso-
line container-related incidents is given in table 10. Matches
were involved most frequently, representing 62 (23 percent) of
the incidents. In comparison, open fires and hot water heaters
each were the ignition sources for 30 (11 percent) of the
incidents; and incinerators and charcoal grill fires each were
involved in 27 (10 percent) of the incidents.
Table 10. Ignition Sources For
Gasoline Container-Related Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
Number of
Percent of
Ignition Source
Incidents
Total Incidents
Matches
62
23
Open Fire
30
11
Hot Water Heater
30
11
Incinerator
27
10
Charcoal Grill
27
10
Combustion Engine
23
8
Camp fire
12
4
Hot Coals or Smoldering Sticks
9
3
Unknown
9
3
Furnace
7
3
Space Heater
6
2
Gas Range or Oven
6
2
Sparks or Shorts
5
2
Fireplace
4
Cigarette
3
Lighter
3
Lantern/Candle
2
Cutting/Welding Torch & Other
Ignition Source Tools
2
7
Clothes Dryer
1
Camp Stove
1
Other Appliances
1
Extension Cord
1
Matches or Lighter
1
Other Work Tools
1
Total
273
100
20
Youth in the 13-20 age group were involved in incidents
most frequently where matches and incinerator fires were the
ignition sources. Adults in the 21-45 age group were involved
most frequently by pouring gasoline on a charcoal grill. Adults
over the age of 45 were involved primarily with open fires.
Combustion engines (priming carburetors) were also the cause
of many injuries for adults ages 21-65.
Children in the 0-5 age group were victims of incidents
where the most frequent ignition source was found to be hot
water heaters. Children in the 6-12 age group were involved
most frequently in incidents where matches were the ignition
source. Activities coupled with ignition sources for these
two age groups demonstrate the greater physical capabilities of
the 6-12 year olds as compared with the toddlers. For the 6-12
age group, the activities generally involved "experimentation"
which meant the ignition sequences were usually intentional.
The activities involving the 0-5 age group, however, generally
were not predetermined which meant these small children usually
became the victims of an existing set of circumstances.
3.4. Gasoline Can Incidents
As seen in table 8 above, gasoline cans were involved in
gasoline container-related incidents more frequently than any
other container type. The ignition-causing activity engaged in
most often was knocking over or dropping the container which
occurred in 10 (24 percent) of the incidents, followed by
starting or tending an open fire type 1 which occurred in 9
(22 percent) of the incidents, and playing with an ignition
source and gasoline which occurred in 6 (15 percent) of the
incidents.
Matches were the most frequent ignition source for this
group of incidents, being reported in 16 of the incidents,
followed by 6 incinerator fires, 5 hot water heater fires,
and 3 combustion engine fires.
When the activities and ignition sources were correlated
for these 41 gasoline can incidents (table 11) , the combinations
which occurred most frequently were playing with gasoline and
matches which occurred 5 times, starting or tending an open
fire type 1 in an incinerator which occurred 4 times, and
knocking over or dropping a gasoline can in the presence of a
hot water heater and using matches near gasoline, each of which
occurred 3 times.
Nine of these 41 gasoline cans were reported to have
exploded at the time of the ignition with 4 of these explosions
occurring near open fires. Three other containers also ex-
ploded at the time of the ignition; two of these containers
21
Table 11. A Comparison Between Activities and
Ignition Sources For the 41 Gasoline Can Incidents
(FFACTS, December 1973)
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2
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5
6
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16
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41
were glass and one was a coffee can.
were being used near an open fire.
These three containers
22
4. CONCLUSIONS
The FFACTS data base was searched for fire incidents
involving gasoline even though the data base is structured to
collect detailed information about fabrics involved in fire
incidents. The information gleaned from these case history
reports concerning gasoline and gasoline containers was addi-
tional information provided by the field investigators in their
attempt to depict as accurately and precisely as possible the
sequence of events which led to the ignition of fabric items.
As such, it is recognized that this information on gasoline and
gasoline containers is biased to fabric-ignited fires only and
cannot be considered as typical or conclusive of gasoline and
gasoline container fires in general.
Males outnumbered females in the gasoline-related incidents
in about a 5 to 1 ratio. When the numbers for both sexes were
examined by age groups, it was observed that although males in
the 21-45 age group were represented most often in the FFACTS
data, they were injured about as frequently as would have been
expected if the gasoline incidents were distributed uniformly
across the male age groups. Males in this age range were in-
volved in tasks for which it was necessary to use a flammable
liquid. Unfortunately, gasoline instead of a more appropriate
product was used. Males in the 6-12 and 13-20 age groups were
injured much more frequently than would have been expected for
their age groups if the incidents were distributed randomly
over the male population. These are the developmental and
maturing years for males in these two age groups which may have
a direct bearing on their high frequency of experimentation
with gasoline and their involvement in gasoline-related fire
accidents. Activities for these age groups centered around
different levels of experimentation, that is, playing with
gasoline and an ignition source appealed to the younger boys
and, on a more sophisticated level, starting or tending open
fires with gasoline attracted the older youth.
A possible explanation for the small number of female
injuries as compared to male injuries is that most of the
ignition-causing activities for these gasoline-related incidents
are traditionally male-oriented. Most of the females injured
in the 0-5 age group were innocent bystanders, being injured as
the result of the actions of males of all ages. Females in the
6-12 age group, although being frequently injured by the actions
of others (both male and female) were often a party to the
sequence of events which led to the ignition. Females between
the ages of 13-65 were involved in activities that may not have
been very familiar to them (i.e., spilling gasoline while in
the process of filling the tank of a lawn mower, removing tile
from a kitchen or laundry room floor, starting a charcoal
grill, etc. ) .
23
Many of these incidents may be related to physical as well
as behavioral development of the victims involved when the
various container types, activities engaged in at the time of
the ignition, and the ignition sources are considered for each
age group for both males and females. For the very young chil-
dren as well as the elderly, physical movements could often be
interpreted as being clumsy and awkward. For the toddlers this
meant a lack of development of motor skills. For the elderly,
however, this indicated a tendency towards deterioration in
manual dexterity. This may be reflected in the comparatively
low injury rates recorded for the youngest and oldest age
groups when collated with the other age groups. The youth and
the adults were often injured because of their carelessness
and/or a lack of knowledge as to the characteristics of this
highly volatile flammable liquid.
In many of the container-related incidents and gasoline
can incidents, improper storage (both in terms of container
choice and physical location) and inappropriate use was indi-
cated. Although containers specifically designed for gasoline
may have some inherent safety problems1 of their own, there was
no indication in the FFACTS data that either these "approved"
containers or any of the other containers, by themselves,
contributed substantially to the gasoline-related incidents.
These incidents were the products of human error, where a lack
of knowledge or judgement resulted in misuse or abuse of the
flammable liquid, the container, or both.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
From the FFACTS data, it seems evident that people of all
ages need to be made aware of the fact that gasoline is a
highly volatile flammable liquid with limited intended use.
This generalization is reinforced by daily accounts from the
news media which relate the reactions of the public to the
current gasoline crisis in terms of attempts to use, hord, or
store this short-supply fuel, often with serious consequences.
It is recommended that an educational program be esta-
blished to inform the public about the properties and char-
acteristics of gasoline which make it an inherently dangerous
flammable liquid. This program should warn against casually
using this volatile liquid around the home in place of specially
prepared cleaners, solvents, fire-starters, etc. and should
provide information on how to store this fuel properly.
Consumer Reports, Gasoline Cans, Vol. 38, No. 5 (May 1973),
332-335.
24
Short messages prepared for radio and television airing
should address the specific users of gasoline and describe some
of the activities that frequently result in burn injuries.
Specifically, these messages should:
1. advise adults, particularly men, to use charcoal
lighter fluid, not gasoline, to start charcoal fires.
2. advise teenages to use commercially prepared solvents,
not gasoline, to clean engine parts.
3. advise adults, primarily women, to use specially
prepared cleaners to clean floors and prepared sol-
vents to remove tiles from floors, not gasoline.
These messages should then give tips on how to use these com-
mercially prepared products safely and what actions to take in
the event a fire should occur.
Radio and television spots should be used to advise the
public to store gasoline in a cool, well-ventilated area, pre-
ferrably away from the house, in a can designed specifically
for that purpose. The public should be warned against storing
gasoline in the following manner:
1. on "child-level" shelves in discarded food or drink
containers.
2. on window sills where the container could easily be
knocked off or where heat from the sun could create
an explosive mixture.
3. in close proximity to other flammable liquids where
a mixture of the vapors could prove to be lethal or
produce an explosive mixture.
4. close to ignition sources such as gas appliances.
The activities which involved the use of gasoline appeared
repeatedly in the FFACTS data, which roughly represents a nine
year period. Since it is reasonable to assume that these
activity patterns will continue to be reflected in accident
data as long as gasoline is sold to the consuming public, an
educational program such as the one described above will be
needed to help reduce or eliminate some of these gasoline fire
accidents .
25
APPENDIX A. THE FLAMMABLE FABRICS ACCIDENT
CASE AND TESTING SYSTEM (FFACTS)
The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Flammable Fabrics
Accident Case and Testing System (FFACTS) was developed under
the mandate of the Flammable Fabrics Act, as amended in 19671.
The Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972 2 transferred the
responsibilities of the Flammable Fabrics Act to the new Con-
sumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) , but NBS continues to
provide technical support to the Commission which includes the
maintenance and analysis of data incorporated in FFACTS.
The primary source of the accident data incorporated in
the FFACTS data base are in-depth investigative reports on
flammable fabric accidents supplied to NBS by CPSC. Using
report forms developed jointly by NBS and CPSC, investigators
from CPSC and other participating organizations follow and
report on accidental fires involving fabric products from
around the country. These reports, together with any available
remains of fabric products involved, are sent to the Office of
Information and Hazard Analysis, FTD, for processing. If the
reports meet the FFACTS requirements of relevance and adequacy,
the fabrics, if any, are analyzed for fiber composition,
fabric construction, and weight. If appropriate test methods
exist, flammability characteristics for these fabrics are also
determined. The information from the accident reports is then
reviewed in light of results of the laboratory tests, coded,
and entered into the FFACTS computerized data base. Some 130
different data elements can be coded for an incident.
It should be noted that the incidents chosen for FFACTS
are not selected on a statistical basis and therefore, do not
constitute a statistically representative sample of all fabric
fire accidents in the United States. However, they do repre-
sent events investigated without known preference and therefore
may be roughly representative of incidents reported to the
agencies from which the CPSC and others obtain accident data.
:The Flammable Fabrics Act, 81 Stat. 568, 15 U.S.C. 1191, as
amended and revised Dec. 14, 1967.
Consumer Product Safety Act. 86 Stat. 1221, 15 U.S.C. 2064B,
May 14, 1973.
26
APPENDIX B. SYSTEM DEVISED FOR OBTAINING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM FFACTS CONCERNING
GASOLINE AND GASOLINE CONTAINER-RELATED INCIDENTS
Summaries were made for each of the 452 gasoline-related
case histories. The FFACTS case number, age and sex of the
primary victim, and a short paragraph noting the type of con-
tainer used for the gasoline, if mentioned, and the circum-
stances leading up to the ignition sequence as they related
to the container were recorded for each incident. Three
classification lists were made which described as clearly
and as concisely as possible the container types involved,
human activities with respect to the containers prior to the
ignitions, and the ignition sources. The 452 gasoline
incidents were coded and tabulated according to this scheme.
The three classification listings thus devised appear below.
27
I. Containers Involved
1.
Gasoline Can
2.
One-Gallon Can
3.
Two-Gallon Can
4.
Three-Gallon Can
5.
Five-Gallon Can
6.
Thirty-Gallon Can
7.
Open Can
8.
Water Can
9.
Milk Can
10.
Coffee Can
11.
Oil Can
12.
Paint Can
13.
Charcoal Lighter Fluid Spray Can
14.
Antifreeze Can
15.
Can with Spout
16.
"Rusty" Can
17.
"Non-approved" Metal Can
18.
Can (Unspecified)
19.
Pail or Bucket
20.
Glass Container
21.
Plastic Container
(Unspecified)
22.
Cup
23.
Open, Shallow Pan
24.
Insecticide Spray
Bottle
25.
Tea Kettle
26.
Milk Can Lid
27.
Bowl
28.
Paint-roller Tray
28
II. Activities
1. Playing with gasoline and an ignition source
2. Playing with gasoline
3. Playing with matches or lighter
4. Playing with an open fire
5. Starting or tending an open fire type 1 (camp fire, fire-
place, grill, incinerator, etc.)
6. Starting or tending an open fire type 2 (bonfire, fire
to clear brush, leaves, etc.)
7. Stirring, stomping, or disturbing an open fire
8. Standing by an open fire (gasoline on clothes)
9. Warming self
10. Standing near gasoline
11. Standing near ignition source - gas appliances (gasoline
on clothes)
12. Transferring gasoline
13. Carrying or transporting gasoline
14. Refueling power machinery and vehicles
15. Spilling or splashing gasoline
16. Knocking over or dropping container of gasoline
17. Cleaning or repairing machinery or equipment
18. Priming carburetor
19. Using machinery or equipment (using or attempting to use
(lanterns, appliances, vehicles, etc. when malfunctioning
or explosion occurred) .
20. Using welding torch, soldering iron, or other work tools
which resulted in being ignition source equipment
21. Using matches or lighter
22. Using gasoline as a cleaning agent (solvent)
23. Using gasoline as an exterminating agent
24. Using gasoline to ignite a heating source
25. Smoking
26. Driving or riding in automobile, tractor, motorcycle,
airplane, etc. (collision, etc.)
27. Helping another person involved in an ignition incident
28. Suspected arson
29. Assault/suicide
30. Miscellaneous
31 . Unknown
29
III. Ignition Sources
HEATERS
1. Furnace (gas)
2. Space heater
3. Hot water heater
4. Unspecified heater
5. Other heater
APPLIANCES
6. Clothes dryer
7. Gas range or oven
8. Light bulbs
9 . Camp stove
10. Other
OTHER OBJECTS
11. Electrical wiring
12. Extension cord
13. Lantern/candle
14. Open fire (unspecified)
15. Fireplace
16. Camp fire
17. Incinerator
18. Charcoal grill
19. Hot coals or smoldering sticks
20. Smoking materials (unspecified)
21. Cigarette
22. Cigar/pipe
23. Matches or lighter
24. Matches
25. Lighter
26. Cutting/welding torch & other special ignition sources
27. Other work tools
28. Combustion engine
29. Fireworks
30. Sparks or shorts
31. Miscellaneous
32. Unknown
30
14A ire\
U.S. DEPT. OF COMM.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
SHEET
1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO.
NBS TN-850
2. Gov't Accession
No.
3. Recipient's Accession No.
, TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Gasoline and Gasoline Container Fire Incidents
5. Publication Date
January 19 75
6. Performing Organization Code
7. ALTHOR(S)
Elaine A.
Tyrrell
8. Performing Organ. Report No.
NBS TN-850
I PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234
10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.
11. Contract/Grant No.
'.. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)
same as No. 9
13. Type of Report & Period
Covered
Final
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
5. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 74- 600L63
6. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or /ess factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant
bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)
Gasoline was involved in 72 percent of the 645 volatile flammable
liquids fire incidents found in the NBS Flammable Fabrics Accident Case
and Testing System as of December 1973. These gasoline incidents,
particularly those that were container-related, were studied in detail.
Male victims out-numbered females approximately 5 to 1 . Both males and
females, ages 6-20, were injured more frequently than would have been
expected if the incidents for each sex had been distributed uniformly
over all age groups. Starting or tending an open fire caused ignitions
most frequently and involved primarily males ages 13-45. Children were
injured most from knocking over or dropping a container of gasoline
close to an ignition source and playing with gasoline and an ignition
source. Matches were the most frequent ignition source. Containers
ranged from large gasoline cans to kitchen measuring cups, although
gasoline cans were reported most often. The youngest children were
involved most with some of the largest containers. The remaining
victims were involved primarily with smaller, more easily managed con-
tainers. There was no indication that the gasoline containers, by
themselves, contributed substantially to these incidents. The problem
was one of human error - misuse or abuse of the gasoline, the container,
or both.
7. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper
.name; separated by semicolons) Accidents] FFACTS ; gasoline; gasoline containers;
gasoline incidents; gasoline-related fires; ignition-causing activities;
ignition sources; volatile flammable liquids; volatile flammable liquids
incidents.
8. AVAILABILITY
■ft Unlimited
L_ For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS
|X! Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government Printing. Office
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I J Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
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19. SECURITY CLASS
(THIS REPORT)
UNCLASSIFIED
20. SECURITY CLASS
(THIS PAGE)
UNCLASSIFIED
21. NO. OF PAGES
34
22. Price
.85>
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